Voicing 7th Chords

 A little bird told me you wanted to learn voicing 7th chords. Thanks for your emails.

 Here is what I have learned from Noah Baerman on voicing 7th chords.

7th chords open up a whole new world of possibilities. It is funny to think that just
one extra note per chord can greatly alter the sound, but dealing with 7th chords does
just that. Voicing becomes much more important now that we are using 7th chords.
More notes create more voicing possibilities. As jazz keyboardists, we strive to learn
what those possibilities are, how to execute them and what impact each one may have
on the overall sound.

Voice Leading

Here are two examples of voicings for a ii-V-I in Bb Major.

1. C/ CEbGBb
  
    F/CEbFA

    Bb/BbDFA

2. C/CEbGBb

    F/FACEb

    Bb/BbDFA

The first example makes more sense. Each voicing flows smoothly to the next one,
and the hands have to move very little to play the progression. In the second example
the sound is broken up, and the right hand has to jump around to play the chords.
The difference is that the first example uses good voice leading. Voice leading is the
smooth movement of voices (notes) from one chord tot he next. If your hands are
jumping all over the place, you're probably not using good voice leading, and the
music is unlikely to sound smooth or cohesive. To voice lead well, your hands should
use the least possible amount of energy. Imagine that, the easier it is to play, the better it sounds!

3. Example of a iii-vi-ii-V-I progression in F Major with good voice leading.

A/GACE (Amin7)

D/FACD (Dmin7)

G/GABbD (Gmin7)

C/GBbCE (C7)

F/FACE (FMaj7)

Each of the four voices in the right hand moves very little as the chords change.
Just like the individual singers in a choir, who can't jump around too much without 
getting tired and confused, the voices in a chord should avoid leaps whenever possible.
The bass notes move around more but that's inevitable when the roots are moving in large
intervals like 4ths and 5ths. Since the left hand is playing one note at a time, it is not
difficult to play.

We have more freedom with voicing when the left hand plays the roots. So far, we've
been playing four notes at a time in the right hand whenever we play 7th chords.
Now that we're getting  the hang of them, we can eliminate one of those notes.


4. The right hand can play the 3rd, 5th, and 7th of each chord. The left hand can take 
care of the roots.

D/FAC (Dmin7)

G/DFB (G7)

C/EGB

With this kind of voicing, the sound becomes more open. We don't lose the fullness
because all four notes of each chord are still being played. WE still use the same method
of voice leading, simply omitting the root from the right hand. Let's take the following
progression in B minor.

5. Roots in l.h. and 3rds, 5ths and 7ths  in r.h. with smooth voice leading.

B/ADF# (Bmin7)

E/BDG (Emin7)

B/ADF# (Bmin7)

G/BDF# (GMaj7)

C#/GBE (C#min7b5)

F#/A#C#E (F#7)

B/ADF# (Bmin7)

If we begin the progression with a different voicing for the first Bmin7 chord,
then the voice leading will naturally lead to other voicings for the rest of the chords,
since other voicings will be within easier reach.

6. Here's another way of voicing the same changes with the same technique.

B/DF#A (Bmin7)

E/DGB (Emin7)

B/DF#A (Bmin7)

G/DF#B (GMaj7)

C#/EGB (C#min7b5)

F#/C#EA# (F#7)

B/DF#A (Bmin7)


Hope these are helpful examples. You may want to visit these resources.

Advanced Gospel Courses

Gospel Core Essentials


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All the best,





"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King

Beach Buggy Blues Lesson

Beach Buggy Boogie has been a very popular song performed by piano players of 

all ages. This upbeat piano song was written by Martha Mier. Set the metronome at 144.

If you sight read music well and you would like to invest in her book that includes 8 original

pieces for early intermediate to intermediate pianist, visit:

Jazz, Rags & Blues, Book 2 (Alfred's Basic Piano Library)

I originally uploaded the song on YouTube and received an avalanche of emails asking 

if I would send sheet music to all parts of the country and abroad. The answer to that 

question (over and over) is that I do not send free sheet music for you to learn for your 

upcoming music events... sorry.

What I like to do is share the chord progression to a song. If you know your chords and can 

connect chord progressions in all keys, then you'll have lots of songs under your belt

that you love to play. So, here's my original video on YouTube.

Here are some tips, plus the right hand runs with the single notes for you.

L.H. Chords:

CG, CA, CG, CA

FC,  FD, FC, FD

CG, CA, CG, CA

GD, GD then FC, FC and back to CG, CA, CG, CA

GD, GbDb, FC, EbBb, CG, CA, CG

Last 3 measures for the l.h.

FC, FD, FC then CG, CA, CG, GD and CEG to C.

Right Hand Runs:

Bb, A, G, E, D#, E, G, A

Eb, D, C, A, G#, A, C, D

Bb, A, G, E, D#, E, G, E, C

C, A, G, E, D#, E, G, E, C




It's easy to play this popular song since it's written in the Key of C and it fits the 12 bar blues structure
pretty well. More to see:
Easy piano music at Sheet Music Plus. Old classics and the latest pop hits.

You may be interested in PITCH Ear-Training Software and Song Robot Software

"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King

He Is Able Piano Chords

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Here's a song you can play in the Key of C, He Is Able. 
Are you familiar with it?

Song: He is Able
Written by Rory Noland and Greg Ferguson

F/G    C    G/B      Dm/A  Am  Em/G
He is able, more than able
F                Dm  C/F    C/G  Gsus  G 
to accomplish what concerns me today.
F/G    C    Em7       Am7   Em7/A
He is able, more than able
Bbmaj7      Dm7               Gsus   G7/F
to handle anything that comes my way.
C/E   E7       F  Fmaj7/E  Dm7
He is able, more than able
C/G               E7/G#           Am7  Fm6/Ab
to do much more than I could ever dream,
C2/G  Em7       Dm/A  Am  Am7
He is able, more than able,
Dm7             Dm7/G       C
to make me what He wants me to be.


Copyright 1988 and this arr. Copyright 1990 by Maranatha! Music

I play the same song in the Key of D. You'll find the chords 

I'm playing directly under the video. Thanks for encouraging me to 

upload more videos. I am now given longer uploading time on YouTube,

so that will be wonderful for teaching purposes.

Now I haven't learned all this sophisticated software yet, so for now,

I'm doing it the old fashioned way! lol I know, the camera angle still

needs to be fixed. But I keep reminding myself, of Zechariah 4:10,

"Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices

 to see the work begin,"...

A/G    D    C#/F#m    Bm  A/F#m  A
He is able, more than able
G                   Em7        A/D  A 

to accomplish what concerns me today.

D    F#m7      Bm7   B/A Bm7
He is able, more than able
Cmaj7      Em7               Asus   G/A
to handle anything that comes my way.
F#/D   A#/F#         G  Em7
He is able, more than able
A/D         A#/F#      F#         Bm  Bb/Gm6
to do much more than I could ever dream,
A/D         F#m7  Bm  Gm
He is able, more than able,
Em7             Asus       A   D
to make me what He wants me to be.

Now there's another arrangement, an entirely different song by Kirk Franklin, He's Able. I love the upbeat, encouraging song.

I found these 2 chord charts @ Learn Gospel Music.com

1. He's Able

LH/RH

INTRO:
D/DF#A
D/EbGBb
D/EAbB
D/FAC
*C/FBbD (POP)

VERSE:

F/GCF
A/GCF
D/GCF
G/BbDF
C/BbDF
F/GCF
A/GAC#E
B/GBD
C#/GAC#E
D/ADF
G/BbDF
A/ACF
Bb/BbDF
C/BbDF

ENDING:

C/BbEbG
C/AEbG
B/AC#EbG
B/ACEF
*Bb/ACDF
*A/GCC#F

POP THE ONES WITH THE * BY THEM AND KEEP PLAYING IT BACK AND FOURTH.   IT'S THE PART WHEN THE LEADER SINGS... HE'S ABLE ..OH YES HE IS ..HE CAN DO IT..

VERSE:
HOLD ON MY BROTHER FOR YOUR CHANGE IS GONNA COME- BE STRONG MY SISTER- FOR YOUR WORK IS NOT DONE- KEEP ON BELIEVING- AND HOLD ON TIGHT- HE'S ABLE TO GIVE YOU JOY - IN THE MORNING LIGHT.



2. He’s Able

1st Intro
C/Bb-D-F-A
B/A-D-G
Bb/A-C-D-F
G/ F-Bb-D
G/G-C-E
G/Ab-Db-F
G/Bb-Eb-G

2nd Intro
C/Bb-D-F-A
B/A-D-G
Bb/A-C-D-F
G/ F-Bb-D
G/G-C-E
G/Ab-Db-F
G/Bb-Eb-G
G/B-E-Ab
G/Db-Gb-Bb
G/Eb-Ab-C  He’s (This ends the 2nd intro.)
F/G-A-C-F    able
A/G-A-C-F
Bb/A-Bb-D-F
C/A-Bb-D-F   He’s
F/G-A-C-F    able
A/G-A-C-F
Bb/A-Bb-D-F
C/A-Bb-D-F  He’s
F/G-A-C-F   able
A/G-A-C-F
A/G-A-C#-E-G
D/A-C-D-F
G/G-Bb-D-F  He able to give you...
C/G-Bb-D-F  In the Morning…
Repeat

Verse
Bb/A-Bb-D-F Hold on my brother A
A/C-G-E   change is going to come
D/F#-C-F
Bb/A-Bb-D-F Hold on my sister your
A/C-G-E   work is not done
D/F#-C-F
Bb/A-Bb-D-F    Keep on believing
A/G-A-C#-E-G   Hold on
D/A-C-D-F     tight
G/G-Bb-D-F    He able to give you...
C/G-Bb-D-F    In the Morning…

Final Part
C/Bb-D-Eb-G  He’s able
B/A-Db-Eb-G  Oh yes He is
Bb/A-C-D-F  He’s able
Bb/A-C-D-F
A/G-C-E  (Fill-in)
Bb/Ab-Db-F (Fill-in)
B/A-D-F#   (Fill-in)
Keep repeating


You might be interested in Urban Classic Worship and Yoke Wong's resource:


Become A Better Church Pianist Now!


Learn How To Play Hymns Using Color Chords


& Exciting Runs & Fillers

www.PianoArrangement.com





Have a blessed day!

"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King